GIANTS NOTEBOOK / Bonds the best McKeon has ever seen

Published 4:00 am, Friday, August 27, 2004

2004-08-27 04:00:00 PDT Miami -- Marlins manager Jack McKeon, 73, has seen many of baseball's greats. As a young boy from New Jersey, he saw Babe Ruth. McKeon was on a minor-league team that played against Willie Mays. Now he's managing against Barry Bonds.

"When people ask me 10 or 20 years from now who's the best player I ever saw, there will be no doubt in my mind. Barry Bonds," McKeon said. "Maybe that's why I walk him so much.

"I saw Babe Ruth at the end of his career, but don't remember much. I was just a kid. But you can't tell me the Babe had as much clout in the game as this guy. You can't tell me the Babe was any better than this guy. You can't tell me this guy isn't the best player in the history of the game."

McKeon was nearly 5 when Ruth announced his retirement in June 1935. He said relatives would take him to Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds, but he doesn't remember much of Ruth except that he was "a roly-poly guy running around the bases."

In 1950, McKeon played for Class-B York of the Interstate League. Mays played for Trenton, one year before he reached the majors. "I remember a series we had -- he was on the field, and I was on the bench," McKeon said.

Bonds was 0-for-7 with six walks in the Marlins series. Since April 29, when he homered off Brad Penny, Bonds is 0-for-10 with 15 walks against the Marlins.

"He should be honored we have that much respect for him," McKeon said. "If I wasn't managing against him, I'd love to see him hit. Whether he walks or doesn't walk, he changes the entire complexion of the game."

Williams throws: Jerome Williams played catch off a mound for the first time since he underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery Aug. 4, and the Giants aren't ruling out a return in September.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's going to pitch this year," trainer Stan Conte said. "I'm very proud of how hard he's worked since he's been on the DL."

Jesse Foppert, another sidelined Giant with hopes of pitching in September, will make his next rehab start with Triple-A Fresno on Saturday.